Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.-filepic
TANAH MERAH: The government is working on repatriating seven Malaysians suspected of unknowingly entering Philippines waters last Sunday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said negotiations with the Philippine authorities are ongoing.
“I have been informed by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Victor Sanjos about the incident and we are working to bring them back.
“We are also identifying and contacting the tour company that managed them because the incident occurred when the boat carrying passengers went out of Malaysian waters before all of them were detained,” he said after launching the Tanah Merah Baitul Mahabbah here yesterday which was also attended by Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, Bernama reported.
Last Sunday, Philippine authorities detained 15 individuals, including seven Malaysians and eight Chinese nationals, on suspicion of illegally entering the country’s waters.
Quoting a Philippines News Agency (PNA) report, Philippine Immigration Bureau Commissioner Norman Tansingco in a statement said the 15 individuals were detained in the waters of Sitangkai, near Tawi-Tawi in the southern region of the country.
